Kevin O'Donnell, the high school principal, accompanied Bernier to the hospital, according to Ouellette, who said she learned that Bernier had died about two hours later.

A resident of Brooklyn, Conn., Bernier began teaching after spending 17 years at Electric Boat, where he was hired as a welder but worked into management as a senior contract analyst.

He also served as pastor with the Church of the Nazarene.

Jane Bernier said her husband never graduated from high school but earned a GED before attaining bachelor and master's degrees from the University of New Haven.

She said that his struggles as a young student made him especially effective working with at-risk students at the high school, where he taught business and study skills classes.

``He had such compassion for those kids,'' Jane Bernier said, adding that her husband's philosophy was, ``Kids don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.''

She said he died of a heart attack.

Clifford Bernier was to have celebrated his 56th birthday Wednesday, and teachers marked his passing with a moment of silence when they reconvened at Illing for a day of professional development activities.

``This is a big loss for the teaching and learning community in Manchester,'' said Margaret Hackett, the school board's chairwoman.

Services for Bernier are scheduled for Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Danielson Church of the Nazarene.